327: Utopia

The surrounded Core Formation Cultivator remained unhurried: "The three continents have been suffering from a great drought recently, and there simply aren't enough hands. If you are unwilling, so be it; I have plenty of work regardless."

"Wait, we'll do as you say!"

In the end, the group could not persuade the Core Formation Cultivator otherwise.

After he cast the Cloud-Rain Art, the Spirit Rice in the fields instantly turned lush green and stood tall.

After the group paid the fee reluctantly, the Core Formation Cultivator turned and left.

Looking at the boundless Spirit Fields, a look of yearning appeared on Qianqiu's face.

If only the Great Abyss could be like this one day.

"Watch closely."

Gu Liangyuan's voice drifted over.

Qianqiu felt the scenery before her change once again.

Several months flashed by in an instant, and the Spirit Rice ushered in the harvest season.

After the Spirit Rice was harvested, the commoners buried the remaining rice stalks underground.

Although the essence of the Spirit Rice was in the grains, these stalks also contained residual Spiritual Qi.

This Spiritual Qi slowly improved the soil beneath their feet, transforming it into Spirit Fields better suited for the survival of the Spirit Rice.

One or two fields might not be noticeable, but what about ten thousand miles of Spirit Fields? Qianqiu felt that as the Spirit Fields evolved, the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth also became somewhat denser.

Qianqiu understood.

With a wave of Gu Liangyuan's hand, Qianqiu felt the scene before her change once more.

As she continuously ascended, the earth beneath her feet shrank in her eyes until the full view of the entire Eastern Continent was reflected in her sight.

At this moment, she could see clearly that the entire Eastern Continent was divided into twenty-four prefectures.

Within the twenty-four prefectures, there were countless cities like the one before.

Between cities and prefectures, not only were there teleportation arrays, but there were also flying ships traveling back and forth along fixed routes.

Connecting in all directions, they forged the entire Eastern Continent into a cohesive whole.

However, among these cities, there were occasionally some large cities, which were often composed purely of Cultivators. Although these people would occasionally visit the smaller cities to experience life, they did not interfere with each other.

Then there were the Sects, which were managed uniformly by the Dao Alliance.

The Dao Alliance divided the Sects of the world into nine Ranks. To establish a Sect, it was no longer as simple as just setting up a mountain Peak like before.

It required approval from the Dao Alliance and land allocation from the Great Abyss.

After meeting certain conditions, a Sect could be promoted.

If any Sect Disciple committed crimes or slaughtered innocents in the mortal world, the Great Abyss would report it to the Dao Alliance, and the Dao Alliance would step in to resolve it.

In this way, although the Sects in the Eastern Continent were not as free as before, they were not as stifled as those in the Central Continent.

Previously, if Loose Cultivators wanted to cultivate, they needed to experience life-and-death trials and venture into the wild to seek Opportunities.

Under this governance model, the Opportunities of the world were controlled by the Great Abyss and the Dao Alliance.

If Loose Cultivators wanted to cultivate, the most important thing was no longer being daring and bloodthirsty, but earning Spirit Stones.

As long as one had Spirit Stones, one could buy everything one wanted in the city.

If one wanted to seek Opportunities, one could take a teleportation array to other continents.

The Great Abyss would not ask about what happened outside.

However, upon returning to the Great Abyss, one had to honestly follow the rules of the Great Abyss.

The details were numerous, and Qianqiu felt she had benefited greatly.

Gu Liangyuan used his Divine Ability to display all this, which was equivalent to breaking the food down and feeding it to Qianqiu.

If Qianqiu still couldn't understand, she would be unworthy of the title of Empress.

Watching Qianqiu, who had her eyes tightly closed in contemplation and digestion, Gu Liangyuan did not disturb her, simply waiting quietly by her side.

Qianqiu, who had been fine a second ago, suddenly turned pale, her body went limp, and she fell directly toward the ground.

Seeing this, Gu Liangyuan's expression changed drastically, and he scooped Qianqiu into his arms.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Gu Liangyuan saw the situation inside Qianqiu's body at a glance.

Yet no matter how Gu Liangyuan searched, he found nothing unusual.

Looking at Qianqiu's tightly closed eyes, Gu Liangyuan frowned.

A golden light flashed between his brows, and he used his Innate Divine Eyes to look again.

Still, he gained nothing.

He used detection techniques to look again, but still could not see any clues.

As the saying goes, concern leads to chaos; at this moment, Gu Liangyuan was somewhat panicked.

How could this be?

Just as Gu Liangyuan was distracted, he suddenly felt a warmth on his lips.

Gently wiping the small trace of moisture from the corner of his mouth, and then looking at Qianqiu, who had a rosy flush on her face and was looking at him with deep affection, how could Gu Liangyuan not understand?

"Oh, you. Your courage is growing, daring to deceive even your Master!"

Qianqiu playfully stuck out her tongue.

Slap!

A crisp sound rang out, and Qianqiu felt a tingling sensation of pain spread across her bottom.

She had not expected Gu Liangyuan to strike suddenly.

Shame, fear, and various emotions surged into Qianqiu's heart.

It made her freeze in place for a moment, at a loss for what to do.

"Do you dare to do it again next time?"

Hearing Gu Liangyuan's words, Qianqiu begged for mercy repeatedly.

"I don't dare, this Disciple will never dare again."

Qianqiu had originally done a lot of mental preparation, mustered up her courage, and steeled herself, thinking she would tease her Revered Master.

But when it actually happened, she realized she wasn't as bold as she had imagined.

Her Revered Master's slap had directly shattered the courage she had painstakingly summoned.

Seeing Qianqiu begging for mercy, Gu Liangyuan waved his hand, and the various scenes before them vanished.

When they reappeared, the two of them had returned to the Imperial Palace.

Gu Liangyuan sat on a chair, while Qianqiu stood to the side, gently rubbing the sore spot, not daring to speak.

At this moment, Qianqiu felt as if two little figures were arguing in her heart.

One little figure said, "Qianqiu, where is your courage?"

"How did you become so docile after just one slap?"

"Go on, fight him!"

The other little figure silently lowered its head.

"Wuwuwu, I don't dare."

Gu Liangyuan looked at the seemingly well-behaved Qianqiu, flicked his hand, and one hundred Mahayana Pills appeared before Qianqiu:

"As an Empress, you still need to have some trusted aides."

"Here are one hundred Mahayana Pills. If someone below Void Refining eats one, they will explode and die, but if someone above Void Refining eats one, they will immediately advance to the Mahayana Rank."

"However, after taking the pill, their cultivation will reach at most the Mahayana Peak, and they will never be able to advance further. Take these to cultivate your trusted aides."

Qianqiu accepted them silently.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Liangyuan took out the Due Golden Bell:

"This Golden Bell is Due's trump card. Once the Golden Bell is rung, it can unleash a world-destroying strike. From now on, leave it in the Great Abyss just in case."

"Ding, Host has bestowed the Due Golden Bell, triggering a five-thousand-fold return. Return reward: one Sun-Shooting Divine Arrow."

Name: Sun-Shooting Divine Arrow

Rank: Ancient Immortal Artifact

Function: The ancient Dayi once used this arrow to shoot down the sun!

One arrow shot can destroy a Small World!

(Note: After being shot, this arrow will also dissipate.)

With years of experience in receiving rewards, Gu Liangyuan had long since mastered the ability to keep his emotions from showing on his face.

Although he was happy inside, there was not the slightest change in his expression on the surface.

"Master is leaving."

Leaving behind these words, Gu Liangyuan disappeared.

He wanted to go back and study this Sun-Shooting Divine Arrow.

Gu Liangyuan left gracefully, but it was a bitter situation for Qianqiu.

Looking at the suddenly vanished Gu Liangyuan, Qianqiu was somewhat panicked.

Huh?

One moment he was bestowing treasures, the next he had disappeared entirely.

Master isn't actually angry, is he?

Oh no, oh no, what should I do?